Fleet Challenge

While the rest of the country basked in what turned out to be the hottest October day, Bassenthwaite was less fortunate – it was warm and muggy but more overcast and not a lot of wind.

Numerous sailors took advantage of some RYA coaching being held over the weekend, all being filmed and replayed at the end of the day. On Saturday Steve Hunt arrived early to figure out how to set up his new Merlin Rocket, and plenty of people took the time to watch him – especially as there was little wind which disappeared totally resulting in racing being abandoned for the day.

Sunday was damp and miserable, but a good sailing breeze and attracted a fleet of 17 boats for the three remaining races of the weekend fleet challenge series.

In the first race, Bean/Naomi in RS200 led the fleet taking 1st place. Steve/Ruth in new Merlin were 2nd on the water, but beaten by Mike/Kayla in F15. Steve/Ruth led the next two races, winning them both, as well as the series trophy. In race 2 Tom Gosden in a Laser kept to Mike/Kayla’s tail beating them on handicap. While in race 3, occasional sailor Stuart Brookes had a good tussle with Ian Campbell/Lezli-Ann Pearson, both in F15s, beating Ian by just 10 secs to take 2nd place. Mike/Kayla’s finished 2nd overall with 5pts, and Tom Gosden 3rd with 6pts.

Calculating the results on a personal handicap basis, Stuart Brookes took three firsts and the trophy, while Alistair Duncan, fresh from the RYA coaching, sailed a Laser, had a 2nd and 3rd, finished 2nd overall. Mike/Kayla had 10 points to count, as did Steve/Ruth, but their 3rd position split the tie in their favour.